Image forming apparatus having a first unit which is moved interrelatedly with a second unit via an urging portion

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a main assembly, a first unit openable relative to the main assembly, and a second unit which is provided inner than the first unit and which is openable relative to the main assembly. Two engaging portions are provided on the second unit for placing the second unit in a closed state in engagement with the main assembly. An urging portion is provided in the first unit for urging the second unit. The second unit is urged by the urging portion of the first unit so that a state of the second unit is capable of being changed from an open state to the closed state. The urging portion urges a region in a neighborhood of a central portion of the second unit with respect to a direction of arrangement of the two engaging portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a main assembly; 
 a first unit openable about a rotational axis relative to said main assembly; 
 a second unit which is provided further inward than said first unit and which is openable relative to said main assembly; and 
 an urging portion, provided in said first unit, for urging said second unit when a state of said second unit is changed from an open state to a closed state, 
 wherein when said first unit is moved from an open state to a closed state, said urging portion causes said second unit to interrelate with movement of said first unit, and 
 wherein said urging portion urges a central region of said second unit with respect to a direction of the rotational axis. 
 
     
     
       2. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising two engaging portions, provided on said second unit, for placing said second unit in the closed state by engaging with said main assembly. 
     
     
       3. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said urging portion urges two central sections when a region between said two engaging portions is divided into four equal sections. 
     
     
       4. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said urging portion is disposed in each of one end side and the other end side in a substantially symmetrical manner on the basis of a center of said two engaging portions with respect to the direction of arrangement of said two engaging portions. 
     
     
       5. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said urging portion includes a tapered portion inclined with respect to a movement direction thereof, and
 wherein the tapered portions are directed in a symmetrical manner with respect to a plane perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of said two engaging portions including the center of said two engaging portions. 
 
     
     
       6. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first unit includes a hooking member provided with said urging portion, and
 wherein said hooking member includes a hooking portion for opening said second unit by being hooked on said second unit placed in the closed state when said first unit is opened from the closed state. 
 
     
     
       7. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said urging portion is provided closer to a free end side than said hooking portion when said first unit is closed from the open state. 
     
     
       8. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said second unit includes:
 a lever member provided movably relative to a main assembly of said second unit; and 
 two engaging portions for placing said second unit in the closed state by engaging with said main assembly, 
 wherein said lever member eliminates engagement of two engaging portions with the main assembly of said image forming apparatus when moved by being hooked on said hooking portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first unit includes a part of feeding path for feeding a recording material when an image is formed on both surfaces of the recording material. 
     
     
       10. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second unit supports a transfer member for transferring onto a recording material a developer image formed on an image bearing member provided in said main assembly. 
     
     
       11. An image forming apparatus comprising:
 a main assembly; 
 a first unit, openable about a rotational axis relative to said main assembly, including a part of a feeding path for feeding a recording material when image formation is effected on both surfaces of the recording material; 
 a second unit which is provided further inward than said first unit and which is openable relative to said main assembly; and 
 an urging portion, provided in said first unit, for urging said second unit when a state of said second unit is changed from an open state to a closed state, 
 wherein when said first unit is moved from the open state to the closed state, said urging portion causes said second unit to interrelate with movement of said first unit, and 
 wherein said urging portion urges said second unit in a central region of a recording material feeding region of the feeding path with respect to a direction of the rotational axis. 
 
     
     
       12. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said urging portion includes a tapered portion inclined with respect to a movement direction thereof. 
     
     
       13. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said first unit includes a hooking member provided with said urging portion, and
 wherein said hooking member includes a hooking portion for opening said second unit by being hooked on said second unit placed in the closed state when said first unit is opened from the closed state. 
 
     
     
       14. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said urging portion is provided closer to a free end side than said hooking portion when said first unit is closed from the open state. 
     
     
       15. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said second unit includes a lever member provided movably relative to a main assembly of said second unit, and
 wherein said lever member eliminates a locked state of said second unit by the main assembly of said image forming apparatus when moved by being hooked on said hooking portion. 
 
     
     
       16. The image forming apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said second unit supports a transfer member for transferring onto a recording material a developer image formed on an image bearing member provided in said main assembly.